Dixon signs extension contract with Ganassi
AUCKLAND: After months of speculation, Kiwi IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon has signed an extension contract with longtime team Chip Ganassi Racing.
The multiyear extension contract announced yesterday will mean the 38yearold will be in the cockpit of the No 9 PNC Bank Honda for the 2019 season and probably through until the end of his career.
The extension ends speculation the fourtime champion would leave the place he has called home for
18 years to join Fernando Alonso on a new McLaren team.
Chip Ganassi spoke highly of Dixon following the announcement and said the New Zealander was possibly in the best form of his career.
‘‘I’m very pleased to be sitting here today announcing him for the future and I’m a happy man,’’ Ganassi said.
‘‘Scott and I have been together a long time and he knows how to win. More importantly, he knows how to win championships.
‘‘He’s not just a normal run of the mill driver . . . he’s the driver that if you were to take a stone and inject some brains into it you’d chisel out Scott Dixon.
‘‘Is he driving as well this season as he’s ever driven in his career? I would have to say yes . . . he has the same desire to win today than he did when he came with our team and that’s impressive.’’
Dixon’s career started in 2000 with PacWest Racing but when the team struggled with funding in 2002 the New Zealander was picked up by Ganassi.
Dixon said although he respected the other teams he had spoken to, he loved the people at Ganassi Racing and admired Ganassi’s desire to win.
‘‘I definitely respect the teams and people that we spoke to over the last few months . . . but for me it’s family and being here this long, there’s a reason that is, because it works so well,’’ Dixon said.
‘‘I just love being here, love the people, and admire Chip and his passion to win. It drives all of us.’’
With four races remaining in the 2018 campaign, including this weekend’s ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway, Dixon boasts a 46point lead over Alexander Rossi as he guns for his fifth title.
Dixon’s latest victory, at the Honda Indy Toronto, gave him 44 career victories to trail only AJ Foyt (67) and Mario Andretti (52) on the alltime win list. — NZME